Grave-vault.



.J. W. FREEMAN.

GRAVE VAULT.

APPLIOATION TILED 11.22, 1910.

Patented Sept. 13,1910.

illlllwn i Lb w k JOSEPH W. FREEMAN, OF PEEBLES, OHIO.

GRAVE-VAULT.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 13, 1910.

Application filed April 22, 1910. Serial No. 557,065.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OSEPI-I W. FREEMAN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Peebles, in the county of Adams and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Grave-Vaults, of whlch the following is a specification.

This invention relates to burial vaults, and has for its object to provide an improved vault capable of cheap construction, and not too heavy in weight, and having the advantages of stability and durability such as may be found in a concrete vault, at a much lower cost.

The invention embodies the use of a wooden frame or box covered with comparatively thin sheet metal, which makes it air tight and also prevent rotting or deterioration of the wood. The wooden structure has the form of a box open at the bottom, and a removable bottom. fits within the same, to support the casket, this bottom being also provided with a sheet metal coating for protective pur oses.

The device is intenc ed for use instead of known cement structures, which have to be molded and cannot be quickly made, and are costly to make and difficult to move or set in place in the grave.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of the vault. Fi 2 is a perspective view of the removab e bottom. Fig. 3 is a vertical cross section of the vault with the bottom in place, the casket being indicated in dotted lines.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 6 indicates the body or frame of the vault, comprising essentially a box made of wood and open at the bottom. A ridge piece 7 extendsfrom one end to the other of the box, above the top thereof, and is supported by blocks 8 at the ends. The purpose of this ridge piece is to give a desirable slope to the top of the metal covering. This covering is indicated at 9, and incloses the whole outer surface of the box, being suitably soldered at the joints to make an air tight structure. It is laid over the ridge piece 7 and is fitted closely to the sides and ends of the box, the joints being soldered as necessary to make it air tight. The lower edge of this metal covering is bent around the lower edges of the side and end walls and extends thence upwardly on the inner surface of said walls, as indicated at 10, to a point higher thanthe possible rise ,of water or moisture within the vault.

The removable bottom consists of a board or series of boards 11, with wooden strips 12 extending around the edge thereof. This bottom is covered on the underside with a sheet metal covering 13, which is extended up the sides of the bottom as indicated at 14, and suitably soldered at the joints to make it water tight, to prevent water soaking into the wooden parts, and the flanges 14 extend sufliciently high to prevent any water flowing over the same and into the interior of the vault. The bottom is made of proper size to fit snugly within the opening in the box or body of the vault. The strips 12, in addition to supportin the metal flanges 14:, also serve to hold the casket in proper position.

The body portion and bottom are held together by means of ties, of which there may be two or more, each comprising a bottom strip 16 attached at its ends to heavy wires or rods 17 which extend up beside the vault and are hooked together at the top as indicated at 18. The strips 16 serve to support the bottom of the vault an inch or two above the ground, so that the lowering straps by means of which the vault is let down into the grave, may be removed after the vault is lodged in place.

Being .constructed of wood, with a covering of thin sheet metal, the vault is comparatively light, and cheap to construct, nevertheless it is water tight and air tight, and sufficiently stable to support the weight of earth upon the same.

In using the vault, the casket will be set in position on the bottom 11. The body 6 will then be placed thereover, and the bands or ties then hooked together to support the bottom when the vault is lifted. The whole structure, with the casket inclosed, may then be lifted by the usual straps or devices and lowered into the grave. Being protected from air and moisture, the wood will last indefinitely. If water should collect in the bottom of the grave, it will rise only a short distance into the joint between the inner metal flanges 10 and 14, and in consequence of the air confined within the vault the water will not rise to the wooden parts thereof, but such moisture will form, in eflect, a water seal between the bottom and sides of the vault.

The sheet metal used will preferably be copper, lead or brass.

\Vhat I claim as new is 1. A grave Vault comprising a wooden box open at the bottom and having an outer air-tight covering of sheet metal, said covering being extended around the lower edges of the box and up within the same, and a wooden bottom adapted to fit within the opening of the box, said bottom having an outer sheet metal covering extended up beside the edges of said bottom.

2. A grave vault comprising a wooden box open at the bottom and having an outer air-tight covering of sheet metal, said covering being extended around the lower edges of the box and up within the same, and a wooden bottom adapted to fit within the opening of the box, said bottom having strips around the edge thereof to confine the casket in position, and also having an outer sheet metal covering extended upwardly beside said strips.

In testimony whereof, I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH W. FREEMAN. Witnesses:

S. N. RUoKER, O. L. OHILDERS. 

